Rarely is a dysfunctional team dysfunctional due to one issue. More commonly, especially for teams that are highly dysfunctional, it is a combination of multiple issues. If your team isn’t functioning as well as it should, it is important to make sure you understand all of the issues present to create an action plan that will address them all. Review the following statements and check off the ones that resonate with your situation.
Communication Issues
__At least one person in my team communicates in a passive aggressive, passive or aggressive communication style.
__I am not as available to my team members as I should be. They frequently complain about how hard it is to get one-on-one time with me.
__I find out important information often as a surprise; I do not feel fully briefed on my team’s activities.
__I have a difficult time articulating my vision.
__I have not clearly communicated or defined the roles and responsibilities with my group.
__I have not clearly communicated the roles and responsibilities of other departments within our organization.
Trust Issues
__It is difficult for me to delegate tasks due to a lack of trust that the job will be completed well by the team member or the team as a whole.
__Some or all of my team members do not trust each other’s abilities and refuse to work collaboratively with all members of the team.
__Some or all of my team members do not trust that promises made within the group will be kept.
__My team has a history of creating timelines and then not sticking to them.
__Fear seems to be a common issue within my team; a sense of security and stability is lacking.
Leadership Issues
__I have not stepped fully into a leadership role; I often still act as a team member taking on tasks that should be delegated.
__I am not respected as the leader of the group.
__I have created a team culture with a focus on productivity and diligence and have not found time for fun.
__There are frequent power struggles and conflicts with my team.
__I have built a team culture of competition and not collaboration. A competitive work style is not a good fit with the work we perform.
Personality Differences
__The personalities in my team clash frequently.
__There is little tolerance to the differences and uniqueness of the personalities and work styles within my team.
__Often there is evidence of competing goals within the team.
Skill Level Differences
__The skill levels vary greatly within my team and respect is not shown to the more skilled workers. The more skilled workers do not mentor the less skilled workers.
__Portfolio assignment is not based on skill strengths.
__Training opportunities to build the skills of my weak team members have not been made available or offered if they are available.
Work Flow Problems
__Duplication of efforts, delays and errors are frequent issues within my team.
__The team has inadequate resources (supplies, equipment, technology, staffing levels etc.).
Once you’ve completed the assessment, look at the areas that need attention and create an action plan to correct your team’s issues. They may be communication issues, trust or leadership issues, personality or skill level differences, work flow problems, or a combination of these. It may take a few months to a year to correct team dynamics but the long term benefits are worth it.
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